Teens have a higher risk of being involved in an accident compared to more experienced drivers
Lack of experience, combined with the use of alcohol, marijuana or other substances, or distractions like cell phones, can yield tragic results
Mile for mile, teenagers are involved in three times as many fatal crashes as all other drivers
Vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death among teens aged 16 to 19 years
6,428 fatalities resulted from teen drivers (15-20 years old) in the U.S. in 2008 (http://dmv.ca.gov/teenweb/more_btn6/traffic/traffic.htm#), but when you consider family and friends impacted by the deaths, injuries, and property damage, the accidents impact many more people.
Young people aged 15-24 represent 14% of U.S. population, but account for 30% ($19 billion) of total costs of motor vehicle injuries among males and 28% ($7 billion) of total costs of motor vehicle injuries among females.
Interesting facts about teen driving and links to additional information:
Did you know teens are much more likely to get in an accident if they are driving with friends in the car?
Did you know that “the quality of decision-making [in teens] fizzles in moments of high arousal”? It’s not what you’re thinking- read pg. 12 of this article to see how the teen brain can put teens at risk!
